Fake box telltale device



Feb. 13, 1940. E. M. MAcboNALD 2,190,212

FARE BOX TELLTALE DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 27, 1936 52 oaoooo INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,190,212 FARE BOX TELLTALE DEVICE Eugene Murdock Macdonald, Shaker Heights, Ohio Original application August 27, 1936, Serial No. 98,225. Divided and this application February 2, 1938, Serial No. 188,284

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved telltale device for use in connection with fare boxes for the receipt and. deposit of coins, fares, and the like, on peripatetic vehicles 5 such as trolleys, trains and busses. The general object and nature of my invention is to provide a device of the character described adapted to better protect the contents of the fare box against tampering, theft, pilferage, or opening by unauthorized persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a telltale or indicating means visible from the exterior of the fare box which is capable of immediately informing an inspector, collector, or

l5 similar authorized person whether an attempt has been made to extract the contents of the fare box by a coin extracting instrument or fishing tool. Additional objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the following description proceeds.

The present application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 98,225, filed August 27, 1936, now Patent Number 2,119,592.

To the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various `mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of my improved fare box construction; Fig. 2 is a view taken upon a plane normal to that of Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the construction of the telltale plate; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken upon a plane normal to that of Fig. 3. l

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, my fare box consists generally, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of a housing I, with a fare or coin Areceiving opening 2 at its top end with the removable vault 3 positioned in its bottom. A

handle 4 is provided on the front end of the vault `3. A door 5 is mounted upon the hinge 6 to the housing, which closes` the opening in the bottom of the fare box through which the vault 3 is removed and inserted. Substantially the upper half portion of the fare box housing i constitutes a fare receiving passage Whose walls 50 are composed of glass` so that the interior of such passage is visible from (Cl. 11G- 114) pivotally mounted by means of the hinge 55, to

the U-shaped rod 5B. The legs 51 of the rod 5B 10 are slida-bly mounted in the guides 58 which in turn are secured to the under side of the baiiie plate 5I. The outer ends of the legs 5'!` are laterally bent as indicated at 59 in order to limit the downward movement of the bar 56 with re- 15 spect to the baille plate 5I.

'I'he telltale plate 53 `has an opening B0 which is larger than the head of the headed pin 6|. The headed pin 6| is mounted upon the baffle plate 5| and extends through the opening 60 20 and engages with its edge in order to normally retain the telltale plate in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 4.

When pilferage or theft of the contents of the fare box might be attempted by inserting a coin 25 or fare extracting instrument, or fishing tool through the opening 2, such instrument must necessarily come in contact with the serrated edge 54 of the telltale plate 53. Then as such instrument is withdrawn, the telltale plate will be 30 slid upwardly along the underside of the baffle plate 5I until the headed pin 6I- clears the edge of the hole 60. As the plate 53 reaches such position, it will be permitted to hang in a vertical position as shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 2 35 and 4. In this manner, attempted theft or tampering with the contents of the fare box will be immediately indicated to authorized persons' upon inspection, and an appropriate investigation may then be instituted. i i

Practically any type of coin extracting instru i ment will operate the telltale plate 53. Such instruments usually consist of a flexible metal strip with a gripping tongue or a piece of chewing gum on the end, or a string with a magnet or grasshopper tied to the end. Such instruments must necessarily contact with the projected edge of the telltale plate 53, and once they are started on their withdrawing movement from' the fare 50 box (which is necessarily the case in the operation of such instruments) the plate 53 will be tripped to a vertically hanging position.

Other modes of applying the principle of `my u invention may be employed instead of the one 55 'and pivotally mounted on the under side of one of said baffle plates and extending beyond the lower end thereof, and a headed pin projecting downwardly from said under side and normally extending through and engaging with the edge of said opening in said telltale plate, the latter being adapted to be released from engagement 20 with said pin and to hang in a vertical position upon contact with a coin extracting instrument or the like.

2. In a fare box, the combination of an exteriorly visible, vertically disposed fare-receiving passage, a baille plate in said passage, a hinge slidably mounted on said plate, and means pivotally mounted on said hinge for indicating the insertion of a coin extracting instrument and the like into said passage.

3. In a fare box, the combination of an eX- teriorly visible, vertically disposed fare-receiving passage, a baffle plate in said passage, a hinge slidably mounted on said plate, a telltale plate pivotally mounted on said hinge, and means for normally holding said telltale plate in an angular position, said telltale plate adapted to be released from the control of Said means and to assume a vertical position upon Contact therewith of a coin-extracting instrument or the like.

EUGENE MURDOCK MACDONALD. 

